Chamfered head for enhanced loading onto media

Includes an actuator arm assembly with an arm capable of traveling back and forth across the edge of the data storage media e.g. magnetic hard disk. A read/write head is mechanically coupled to the far end of the actuator arm. A chamfered surface near the head assembly is exposed to the edge of the data storage media during travel of the actuator arm assembly. INDEPENDENT CLAIMs are included for a method and a head. A read/write head for use in a disk drive having chamfered surfaces reducing possible damage to the head assembly and/or media during loading and unloading of heads form media surface. In an inadvertent collision between the media and head assembly, the media may become displaced, possibly damaging the head suspension assembly or critical electrical connections between the head assembly and media drive. Similarly, such a collision may impart irreversible physical damage to the recording medium, making the data on the medium unrecoverable. The present invention comprises chamfered surface, preferably formed into the head, which reduces the likelihood of damage caused to the head assembly or media in the event of an inadvertent collision. These chamfered surfaces deflect the media to its proper position such that damage is minimized during collision.